Extreme Natural Events – New Zealand
1
Achievement Standard
Subject Reference
Geography 1.1
Title
Demonstrate geographic understanding of environments that have
been shaped by extreme natural event(s)
Level
1
Credits
Subfield
Social Science Studies
Domain
Geography
4
Assessment
External
Status
Registered
Status date
30 November 2010
Planned review date
31 December 2014
Date version published
30 November 2010
This achievement standard involves demonstrating geographic understanding of
environments that have been shaped by extreme natural event(s).
Achievement Criteria
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
 Demonstrate geographic
understanding of
environments that have
been shaped by extreme
natural event(s).
 Demonstrate in-depth
geographic understanding
of environments that have
been shaped by extreme
natural event(s).
 Demonstrate comprehensive
geographic understanding of
environments that have
been shaped by extreme
natural event(s).
Explanatory Notes
1
This achievement standard is derived from the Level 6 Geography achievement
objectives of The New Zealand Curriculum, Learning Media, Ministry of Education,
2007, and is related to material in the Teaching and Learning Guide for Geography,
Ministry of Education, 2010 at http://seniorsecondary.tki.org.nz.
2
Demonstrate geographic understanding typically involves:
 describing aspects of how extreme natural event(s) shape environments
 including supporting evidence.
Demonstrate in-depth geographic understanding typically involves:
 explaining aspects of how extreme natural event(s) shape natural and cultural
environments
 including detailed supporting evidence.
Demonstrate comprehensive geographic understanding typically involves:
 fully explaining aspects of how extreme natural event(s) shape natural and
cultural environments using geographic terminology and concepts, and showing
insight
 integrating detailed supporting evidence.
Extreme Natural Events – New Zealand
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3
Geographic understanding refers to an understanding of how natural environments
and people interact and the consequences of that interaction.
Extreme natural event(s) refers to one type of naturally occurring hazard that has a
major impact on people’s lives, such as: earthquakes, floods, tsunami, landslides,
tropical cyclones.
Supporting evidence refers to specific, relevant information from different
environments.
Environments refer to either different places that are affected by one type of extreme
natural event or different places that are affected by a single extreme natural event.
Integrating refers to relevant examples being woven throughout the evidence to
support explanations.
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Aspects are selected from:
 natural and cultural characteristics (features) of the environments that make them
vulnerable to the extreme natural event(s)
 natural processes that operate to produce the extreme natural event(s)
 effects of the extreme natural event(s) on the natural environments
 effects of the extreme natural event(s) on the cultural environments
 how different groups of people have responded to the effects of the extreme
natural event(s).
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Assessment Specifications for this achievement standard can be accessed through
the Geography Resources page found at www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/resources.
Extreme Natural Events – New Zealand
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Things I am going to learn
By the end of this unit you should be able to:
 Define the terms; natural event, cultural environment, natural hazard
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Draw a diagram to show when an extreme natural event becomes a natural hazard
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State ten natural hazards that we experience in New Zealand
 Explain in detail the processes that produce tropical cyclones.
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Explain the effect that tropical cyclones have on the natural environment.
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Explain the effects that tropical cyclones have on economic and social activities.
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Explain how people can prepare for and respond to the effects of tropical cyclones.
 Explain in detail the processes that produce earthquakes.
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Explain the effect that earthquakes have on the natural environment.
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Explain the effects that earthquakes have on economic and social activities.

Explain how people can prepare for and respond to the effects of earthquakes.
Extreme Natural Events – New Zealand
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Why study extreme natural events?
INTRODUCTION
Extreme natural events occur all over the world, all the time. Extreme natural events are having an ever
increasing impact on cultural environments. In this unit we are going to study the processes that produce
these events, the effects they have on the natural environment, effects to social and economic activities, and
the way in which we prepare and respond to these events.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this section you should be able to:
 Define the terms; natural event, cultural environment, natural hazard

Draw a diagram to show when an extreme natural event becomes a natural hazard

State ten natural hazards that we experience in New Zealand
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Definitions
Term
Natural Event
Definition
Example
Cultural Environment
Natural Hazard
Natural hazards occur when a natural event interacts with a cultural environment. This interaction
can be shown in the diagram below:
New Zealand’s major natural hazards are:
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Processes
Processes are:
“Sequences of related actions which modify or maintain the environment are known as processes.
Processes vary in time and space and in magnitude and frequency. Some processes encourage
concentration, some encourage dispersal.”
Extreme natural events originate from processes above, on and below the earths surface. They
are:
Processes
Location
Above
the
earths surface
Example natural events
On the earths
surface
Below
the
earths surface
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Tropical Cyclones
INTRODUCTION
Tropical cyclones pose only a small risk to New Zealand. We have experienced cyclones before, but they
are not very common as we are too far south. However, they do have a huge impact on the lives of people
living in the South-West Pacific. As we are part of this community, any effects to them affect us.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this section you should be able to:
 Explain in detail the processes that produce tropical cyclones.
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Explain the effect that tropical cyclones have on the natural environment.
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Explain the effects that tropical cyclones have on economic and social activities.
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Explain how people can prepare for and respond to the effects of tropical cyclones.
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Processes producing Tropical Cyclones
The processes that produce tropical cyclones are known as _______________ processes. They
occur ________ the earths surface.
Location of the South-West Pacific – The Tropics
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Map showing the location of the SouthWest Pacific.
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Diagram showing the suns rays and the earths tilt – creating the ‘Cyclone Season’
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Tropical Cyclones
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Diagram of a Tropical Cyclone
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Formation of Tropical Cyclones
Events:
Diagram:
Weather Map:
Events:
Diagram:
Weather Map:
Events:
Diagram:
Weather Map:
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Pacific Island Environments
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Diagram showing a ‘High Island’
Diagram showing a ‘Low Island’
Sequence of Natural Events
Before
During
Extreme Natural Events – New Zealand
After
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Effects on the Natural Environment
Tropical cyclones effect the natural environment in many different ways. The two different types of
island experience similar effects, but on differing magnitudes.
Effect
Description
Diagram
The Storm Surge
Downpours
Flooding of Rivers
Deposition of
sediments
Landslides
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Effects on Economic & Social Activities
Economic activities:
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Social activities:
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ECONOMIC EFFECTS
Effect
Extreme Natural Events – New Zealand
(+ / -)
Diagram
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SOCIAL EFFECTS
Effect
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Diagram
Preparing & Responding to a Cyclone
Pacific Island communities are used to living with tropical cyclones. People in these areas have
learned lessons from previous tropical cyclones and have taken measures to greatly reduce the
risks to lives and property. When a tropical cyclone occurs the following process is usually
followed:
Readiness
Reaction
Extreme Natural Events – New Zealand
Response
Rehabilitation
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STEPS TAKEN DURING EACH STAGE
Readiness
Predictability of Tropical Cyclones:
Predictable
Unpredictable
Reaction
Response
Rehabilitation
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Earthquakes
INTRODUCTION
New Zealand experiences hundreds of earthquakes every year. This is due to the fact that we are located
on a fault line. This fault line is also the reason for the formation of our landscapes. Some of New Zealand’s
worst natural hazards have been earthquakes. In fact, we are long overdue for a big one!
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this section you should be able to:
 Explain in detail the processes that produce earthquakes.
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Explain the effect that earthquakes have on the natural environment.
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Explain the effects that earthquakes have on economic and social activities.
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Explain how people can prepare for and respond to the effects of earthquakes.
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Processes producing Earthquakes
The processes that produce earthquakes are known as _______________ processes. They
occur ________ the earths surface.
The Earths Structure
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Diagram showing the structure of the Earth
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Plate Tectonics
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Title: ___________________________________________________________________
Convection Currents
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Diagram showing convection currents
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Plate Movements
Colliding
Diverging
Sliding
When Does An Earthquake Occur?
Stress energy:
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Focus:
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Epicentre:
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Diagram showing focus, epicentre, seismic waves, fault, and fault scarp
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Seismic Waves
Primary
Secondary
Surface
Sequence Of Natural Processes Producing An Earthquake
Before
During
After
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Effects on the Natural Environment
Earthquakes have a massive effect on the natural environment – they are after all a major cause in
the creation of the natural landscape. There are direct effects of ground movement, such as
displacement, and also secondary effects, such as landslides,etc.
Ground Movement
Lateral
Vertical
Horts and Grabens
Cracks, Fissures, Scarps, Landslides, Liquefaction, & Tsunami
Cracks:
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Fissures:
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Scarps:
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Landslides:
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Liquefaction:
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Tsunami:
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Diagram showing uplifted block, landslide, scarp, fissure, Tsunami
Effects on Economic & Social Activities
Economic activities:
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Social activities:
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Effects on economic social activities from an earthquake can be both negative and positive.
Economic Effects
Diagram Page 46 Sewell
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Social Effects
Diagram Page 46 Sewell
Preparing & Responding to an Earthquake
Communities established along or near fault lines are used to living with earthquakes – just think of
Wellington. People in these areas have learned lessons from previous earthquakes and have
taken measures to greatly reduce the risks to lives and property in earthquake prone regions.
When an earthquake occurs the following process is usually followed:
Readiness
Reaction
Extreme Natural Events – New Zealand
Response
Rehabilitation
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Steps Taken During Each Stage
Readiness
Predictability of earthquakes:
Predictable
Unpredictable
Reaction
Response
Rehabilitation
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